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*April 24, 2009*
* *
* 1. Remembering April 24: Armenians mark the anniversary of 1915
genocide*
* *
* 2.** **Nazik Armenakyan Presents: Images of Genocide survivors *
* *
* 3. AAA: Support continues to build for U.S. affirmation of Genocide*
* *
* **4.** **Too Many Questions: A week of =80=98sensational statements’
preceding April 24 provides no answers yet*
* *
* 5. =80=98Case of 7′: Interrogation of witnesses in Arzumanyan/Sirunyan
trial reveals discrepancies***
* *
*6. **=80=98We’ve got an idea’: NGOs =80=98sell’ anti-corruption projects at
USAID-organized marketplace** *
* *
* 7. Currency concerns: Post-=80=98Black Tuesday’ prediction of dram behavior
appears a tall order in Armenia***
* *
* 8. A Century On: Armenians remember Adana massacre in Ottoman Empire
as a prelude to genocide *
* *
* 9. A Soldier’s death: Parents claim their son was murdered; prosecutor
blames faulty **electric wire *
* *
* 10.** **Karabakh: Will the new law on religion curb the number of sects
in Karabakh?*
* *
* 11. Green Thinker: Pensioner in Armenia claims remedy for climate
change, neglect from agencies*
* *
* 12. Un Poncho e Un Sombrero: Mariachi singing offers a delightful sight
for Yerevan residents*
* *
* 13.** Sport: Aronyan successful in Nalchik, Pyunik extend unbeaten run*
* *
* ***
********************************************* *******************************
*1. Remembering April 24: Armenians mark the anniversary of 1915 genocide*
* *
*By Karine Ionesyan*
*ArmeniaNow reporter*
Today, April 24, from early hours of the morning, an endless flow of people
have been moving to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial to lay flowers to the
Eternal Flame burning in memory of 1.5 million Armenians who fell victim to
the genocide in Ottoman Turkey at the beginning of last century.
The marking of the 94th anniversary of the genocide in Yerevan started on
the eve when thousands of people gathered April 23 near Matenadaran =80` an
Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in downtown Yerevan for the torch
procession towards the memorial place. It was the tenth year Armenians
gather for the walk procession with the torchlight.
`Only 200-300 people participated in the first torch procession, and last
year their number reached 15-20 thousand. This proves that the procession
became a pan-Armenian youth movement,’ says Tatul Harutyunyan, a member to
the ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) Supreme Body, which is the
initiator of the torchlight procession.
=80=98If our sons forget so much evil, may the whole world reproach Armenians,’
=80=98April 24, this day the world must not forget:’ this is the way youngsters,
scanning =80=98Recognition,’ formed their protest on posters. And school
children, carrying posters reading =80=98My name is struggle, my death is
victory’ on their backs, carried a huge Armenian tricolor.
`We know that the US President, no matter how much he wishes, would not
recognize the Armenian Genocide, since otherwise he would lose a very
prominent ally in the Caucasus – Turkey. But we ourselves have to struggle
all the time,’ says Melik Daveyan, 14, who has participated in the
torch
procession since he was 6.
And Satenik Tsaghikyan, 63, who used to participate in the torch processions
in Tehran, and since 1998 – in Armenia, was hopeful that the US President
would pronounce the word genocide today.
There were distinguished Armenian intellectuals among the participants of
the torch procession. Film Director Tigran Khzmalyan was one of them. On
that day Khzmalyan, who currently works on a new film telling about
Armenians burned inside Urfa’s church, left his work early and holding a
small candle headed for Tsitsernakaberd to pay homage to the memory of the
genocide victims.
The film director believes that the current year is different from the
previous ones because of the disgraceful announcements. One of them is the
signing of the document on April 22 (Wednesday) by Armenia and Turkey with
Switzerland’s mediation in the process of Armenian-Turkish rapprochement
that the parties said was favorable for both sides. And this happens
simultaneously with Turkey’s demands for Armenian concessions to Azerbaijan
in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
`Our puppet authorities decided to become Turkey’s puppet participating in
that disgraceful half-football half-poker, belote (card) game. I hope that
the ARF will find the courage that its own history calls for to pull out of
the governing coalition. If it does not happen, this everything taking place
here would be a theatre of absurd,’ Khzmalyan shared his concerns during the
procession.
******************************* *********************************************
*2 . Nazik Armenakyan Presents: Images of Genocide survivors *
* *
A photo exhibition honoring survivors of the Armenian Genocide titled simply
"Survivors" opened April 23 at the Union of Artists in Yerevan and is the
two-year work of photojournalist Nazik Armenakyan.
In black and white it presents photos of 40 people who were eyewitnesses to
the horrors that befell Armenians during the scourge by Ottoman Turkey in
1915-18.
Armenakyan, staff photographer at ArmeniaNow, says the experience of
capturing the faces that represent the family histories of so many millions
of Armenians worldwide was "another attempt to remind of the innocent
victims of 1915."
`I have photographed people holding their old photographs in their
hands –
one end of the thread connecting them with the past,’ says Armenakyan.
`Some of these people never had a photograph taken of them during their
whole life. Perhaps this is their last photograph. Only this could have
become a good reason for a separate project.’
The photographer says the project is not over and will continue as long as
genocide survivors are alive and `can testify to what they eye-witnessed.’
The exhibition is open to general public and will be on until May 5.
******************************************** ********************************
*3*. *AAA: Support continues to build for U.S. affirmation of Genocide***
* *
*By Arpi Harutyunyan *
* *
As reported by the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly), H. Res. 252, the
Armenian Genocide Resolution, has crossed a threshold with the bi-partisan
support of 100 cosponsors.
`Reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide took another step forward today,’
stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
`As we mark Genocide Prevention Month throughout April and the anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, support continues to build for
unequivocal U.S. affirmation. By affirming the Armenian Genocide, we further
the cause of genocide prevention,’ added Ardouny.
On the threshold of the commemoration of the 94th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, AAA Country Director Arpi Vartanian also spoke about the
US’s possible recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
`When Obama was a Senator and a presidential candidate, he said numerous
times that the Armenian Genocide must be recognized. And we expect that he
will keep his promises,’ says Vartanian. Though, she found it difficult to
predict whether Obama would utter the word genocide on April 24 this year or
not.
Vartanian believes that the historic events that happened recently, such as
Obama’s announcement at the Turkish Parliament stating that he did
not
change his position concerning the issue, as well as his speech on the
Rwandan Genocide’s anniversary commemoration, stating that all genocides
must be prevented, do give hope.
Referring to the works carried out by the AAA, Vartanian emphasized that the
AAA works not only in April, but also during the whole year for the US
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
`We work with Congressmen, Senators, the Obama administration. But
the work
with the community is the most important,’ said Vartanian, =80=9CIt was even
harder before – we were working on the adoption of the Resolution by
Congressmen.’
H. Res. 252, a congressional resolution which reaffirms the historical
record of the United States on the Armenian Genocide, was modeled after H.
Res. 106, which passed the House Committee on Foreign Affairs during the
110th Congress. H. Res. 252, was introduced by Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA),
George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).
In January, the Assembly launched a website,
ArmenianGenocideAffirmation.com, dedicated to U.S. affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide. The website affords visitors the opportunity to send a
letter to President Barack Obama or their respective Member of Congress,
view the current list of all H. Res. 252 co-sponsors, join the Assembly’s
facebook group or become an Ambassador of Affirmation, as well as view its
latest video messages.
************************************** **************************************
*4.* *Too Many Questions: A week of =80=98sensational statements=80=99 preceding April
24 provides no answers yet*
* *
*By Aris Ghazinyan*
*News Analysis *
* *
The days leading up to the sad anniversary for Armenians, the Genocide
Commemoration Day, were marked not only by increased speculation around the
prospects of Armenian-Turkish ties and related concerns but also by quite a
sensational diplomatic announcement and at least one sensitive statement by
an Armenian politician.
Only a day before the sorrowful anniversary of the Armenian genocide marked
every year on April 24, Armenia and Turkey agreed on the so-called =80=9CRoadmap’
of normalizing bilateral relations. This sensational news became the most
discussed topic in Yerevan, although the details of the `Roadmap=80=9D are not
made public.
On April 23, the Foreign Ministries of Armenia, Turkey and the Federal
Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland made a joint announcement that
says:
`Turkey and Armenia, together with Switzerland as mediator, have been
working intensively with a view to normalizing their bilateral relations and
developing them in a spirit of good-neighborliness, and mutual respect, and
thus to promoting peace, security and stability in the whole region.
The authors of the document further mention that `the two parties have
achieved tangible progress and mutual understanding in this process and they
have agreed on a comprehensive framework for the normalization of their
bilateral relations in a mutually satisfactory manner. In this context, a
road-map has been identified.’
Thus, it is clear that the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Turkey have
reached an agreement on a very important issue. Yet, it is not clear which
one exactly. How can the parties, as it says in the official announcement,
settle the relations in a mutually satisfactory manner?
The thing is that on April 20, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
announced to the Turkish mass media again that the border between Armenia
and Turkey will not be opened until the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
Commenting on the confidential negotiations that lasted for two years
between the representatives of Armenia and Turkey in Switzerland, Erdogan
stated that contacts on the issue of normalizing bilateral relations are
going on, `but the opening of borders is related to the resolution
of the
Karabakh conflict.’
And now immediately after this, the parties made a joint announcement. Does
it mean in this case that Ankara and Yerevan are already very close to
mutual understanding?
On the same day, quite an unexpected announcement was made by the person
occupying the number two political post in the Armenian state hierarchy =80`
Hovik Abrahamyan, the Parliament Speaker. He was in Poland on an official
visit. Thus, in an interview to the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita he
stated that `the Armenian-Turkish border will be opened in 2009, and before
that diplomatic relations between the two countries will be established.=80=9D
The Speaker made also another sensational announcement. He pointed out in
Warsaw that `not a single country in the world, including Russia, can
dictate anything to Armenia.’ The sensitivity of the situation is that
negotiations between the Presidents of Russia and Armenia were being held in
Moscow when the statement was made. How will Moscow and the President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan react to this statement by the Armenian Speaker?
Two days during the passing week provided too many questions in Armenian
political life, and not a single answer. But it is also obvious that we will
hear at least one answer in the next two or three days.
******************************************* *********************************
*5. =80=98Case of 7′: Interrogation of witnesses in Arzumanyan/Sirunyan trial
reveals discrepancies*
* *
*By Gayane Abrahamyan*
*ArmeniaNow reporter*
The court trial of two persons indicted on the famous `Case of 7=80=9D related to
the March 1 events – Alexander Arzumanyan, ex-Foreign Minister, and Suren
Sirunyan, former Head of the security service of ex-Interior Minister Vano
Siradeghyan – which has dragged on for four months, finally entered the
stage of interrogating witnesses last week. However, the defenders claim
that none of the 10 interrogated witnesses said a word in their testimony
that would prove the guilt of the accused.
>From April 1 the `Case of 7′ per se does not exist, it was
taken apart and
divided into five separate cases that are being heard in different courts.
Charges are brought against Arzumanyan and Sirunyan, two of the seven
politicians, according to Article 225, Part 1 of the Criminal Code for
organization of mass disorder, which envisages 4-10 years of deprivation of
liberty.
Earlier charges were brought against all the seven based on two
Articlesproviding for particularly
* *grave crimes: Article 225, Part 3 `for organizing mass disorder
accompanied with murder’ and Article 300, Part 1 `usurpation of state
power.’
However, on the demand of the *Parliamentary Assembly** *of the* **Council**
*of Europe (PACE),* *the National Assembly made changes to these two
Articles in the Criminal Code: as a result, Article 300 was completely
eliminated, Part 3 of Article 225 related to murders was removed, and
charges were brought against them only based on Part 1 of Article 225 =80`
organizing mass disorders. That is, while before the seven defendants were
also accused of murders, now they are only accused of organizing mass
disorder.
The case of Arzumanyan and Sirunyan is being investigated as one case, and
it is the only one among the cases of the seven oppositionists that has made
serious progress: it has reached the stage of interrogating witnesses.
Ten out of the 15 witnesses summoned to court have already been
interrogated, however, Sirunyan’s defender Varduhi Elbakyan pointed out that
the witnesses’ testimonies have nothing to do with the charges brought up.
`All the pieces of testimony are discrepant, no testimony was given up to
this day that proves they organized mass disorder,’ says Elbakyan,
adding
that she cannot imagine on what grounds the court will continue the trial,
since all the testimony is `senseless.’
The stage of interrogating witnesses on this case was scandalous, often with
ridiculous details, as, for instance, one of the witnesses gave assurances
that on March 1 he `saw and heard’ Levon Ter-Petrosyan=80=99s speech by the
monument to Myasnikyan, the central stage for the unrest on that day,
whereas on March 1 Ter-Petrosyan was actually under home arrest since early
morning. Another witness announced in the courtroom that, as she was sitting
by Congress hotel, she saw how `oppositionists were looting the shops on
Mashtots Avenue.’
But let’s proceed chronologically and in detail.
On the first day of the interrogation, Samvel Gasparyan’s testimony was the
most interesting of those given by three witnesses summoned to court.
Grigoryan also saw Ter-Petrosyan on the evening of March 1.
He introduced himself as a newsagent; he said he went to the monument to
Maysnikyan on March 1 to see `what the end of all this was going to be.’
Samvel Gasparyan testified that he personally saw and heard the speech made
by Levon Ter-Petrosyan by Myasnikyan’s statue, and, according to Gasparyan,
Ter-Petrosyan stayed there for `about 30 minutes.’ When Arzumanyan’s
defender Hovik Arsenyan asked the witness how he could see Ter-Petrosyan if
the latter was not there at all on that day, the witness said, `How come?
Oh, yeah, he wants to confuse me again.’
Like this witness, all the other witnesses stated that they personally have
not seen or heard Arzumanyan and Sirunyan making appeals or taking steps to
arrange disorders or coup-d’etat.
The next witness to be interrogated was Susanna Galstyan, who said in the
courtroom that she has been in coma three times for the past year, she
doesn’t remember anything, she has two children, one of whom is eight years
old, and the other, as she said, is `20-30 years old.’
This witness wrote in her testimony, `on March 1, by the monument to
Myasnikyan, Alexander Arzumanayn was giving explicit orders to Nikol
Pashinyan about unleashing disorders.’
Defense lawyer Arsenyan asked, `Did you hear the orders with your own ears?’
The witness answered, `No, I didn’t: I was standing far, but I saw him and I
suppose that’s what he must have said.’
Galstyan’s testimony was also very conflicting, she was periodically
pointing out that she wrote the testimony herself, nobody prompted her,
nobody made her do that.
She then told that `they were all mixed up, beating each other, it
was a
mess,’* *and she ran away from there, then, around eight in the evening, she
felt tired and sat down by Congress hotel and from there, she saw how =80=9Cthe
shops on Prospekt (Mashtots Avenue) were being looted.’ **
However, when Arzumanyan asked how she could possibly have seen the looting
of shops at a distance of about one kilometer through tall buildings, the
witness said, `Oh, yeah? Then I haven’t seen it.’
During the interrogation of another witness in court it became clear that
for the most part he hadn’t eyewitnessed everything he had told the
investigators – he saw it on TV.
At first, witness Ashot Harutyunyan said in the court that he had stayed by
the monument to Myasnikyan until 7:00 pm and saw Ararat Zurabyan and
Alexander Arzumanyan. However, when the defender asked how the witness could
have seen them if the operative videorecordings present in the case testify
to the fact that these two oppositionists came there only at 9:00 pm, the
witness said, `Well, people said they were there.’
Afterwards, Alexander Arzumanayn asked if he had seen a fight with his own
eyes, which he had testified to in his preliminary investigation testimony,
the witness said, `Well, everybody saw all this on TV.’
The preliminary investigation testimony of this witness given last April
said also that he had noticed that people were being given money in Liberty
Square, and again, when asked if he had seen it with his own eyes, he said,
`Well, they said people are being given 5,000-6,000 drams, they said it on
TV as well.’
Human rights activist, Chairman of the Helsinki Association of Armenia
Mikael Danielyan points out that it is impossible to bring forth any charges
having this kind of testimony of the witnesses.
`Now it is clear why the court procedure was being delayed for five months:
they had no witnesses, they had a hard time finding these clowns, it=80=99s
impossible to continue the trial with these testimonies, if this were a
normal country the case would have been closed down* *today,’ Danielyan said
to ArmeniaNow.
Another witness, Gagik Avdalyan, completely denied the testimony given to
the investigators earlier and announced that he was forced to give it by
`violent beating.’ `They were saying: `Write that Vano’s puppet (Suren
Sirunyan) is distributing 2,000 drams in Liberty Square,’ the witness told.
`They made me write the testimony by beating the life out of me. They had
been beating me all night, the next day I wrote the testimony they wanted
tаking the investigator’s dictation,’ Avdalyan confessed before the court.
`They had beaten me so much that I had been in hospital for two months after
the interrogation, they followed me, and for several weeks I was afraid to
go home,’ Avdalyan says, trying to persuade the court not to take into
account his testimony enslosed in the case, as it was written `by coercion.’
Only two witnesses didn’t show up at the interrogation in court, and they
are expected to be interrogated at the April 27 trial. Arzumanyan’s defender
Hovik Arsenyan says that if these witnesses say nothing related to the case
as well, `the case will totally collapse.’
`Arzumanyan and Sirunyan are accused of organizing mass disorder, however,
there is not a sinlge witness who would say that he/she had seen them
organizing the looting of shops or the burning of cars,’ Arsenyan says.
***************************************** ***********************************
*
*6*.* **=80=98We’ve got an idea’: NGOs =80=98sell=80=99 anti-corruption projects at
USAID-organized marketplace *
* *
*By Suren Musayelyan*
*ArmeniaNow reporter *
* *
Several Armenian nongovernmental organizations will be awarded grants for
anti-corruption projects after successfully =80=98trading’ their ideas of how to
tackle the common malady of post-Soviet societies for votes at a
=80=98marketplace’ on Wednesday.
* *
The whole-afternoon event organized by the U.S. Agency for International
Development’s Mobilizing Action Against Corruption Project (MAAC) had
brought together a total of 24 NGOs that presented to other visitors,
including members of the public, their proposed ways of fighting corruption
in different spheres in order to get their approval in a later voting.
* *
Projects of eight NGOs were eventually selected through a combined
evaluation by the MAAC (20 percent), a vote by the general public (30
percent) and a six-member panel of judges (50 percent).
According to MAAC chief of party Francois Vezina, the winners will receive
grants of the equivalent of between $15,000 and $25,000 for their projects
to be carried out until March/April next year.
`What we wanted to do is to have a very public event that would draw the
attention of all the NGOs in the country and give them a chance to
participate. That also includes NGOs that have never been involved in
democracy, governance or anti-corruption projects,’ he said.
Vezina described the effort as =80=98a significant beginning’ that gives people
and NGOs confidence that `they can get involved and work in partnership’ in
dealing with these issues.
`We work in partnerships with our grantees and we are always there
to
support them,’ he added.
The winning NGOs include those working in different areas, such as medicine,
rights of disabled people, support of young families, television production,
public relations, community support and others. They represent both the
capital city and regions.
Next, the winning NGOs will work on different aspects of their projects
together with MAAC and after starting their activities will have to report
on a quarterly basis in addition to monitoring visits from the donor.
For runners-up, according to the MAAC chief of party, the marketplace could
prove =80=98a valuable learning experience.’
`I think that everyone will leave here as a winner, having met other NGOs
that are involved in this and having seen what their projects are like. For
many of them it is the first time they have ever applied,’ he said.
Armen Ghukasyan, a consultant with a Stepanavan-based NGO helping disabled
people, had come to the marketplace with a proposal of raising awareness
among people with disabilities of their rights in applying to medical
commissions to get their disability groups awarded or confirmed.
`We developed this idea when we learned about the announcement. As
an
organization involved in the protection of the rights of disabled people for
ten years we have received numerous complaints about bureaucratic
procrastinations in the work of medical commissions and often even eligible
applicants feel that giving a bribe will save them from these
procrastinations,’ Ghukasyan explained.
Despite a declared government effort in Armenia to fight corruption, it is
still perceived as one of the top problems in Armenian society that
undermines trust in public and government institutions as well as the
country’s economic progress – an aspect that acquired particular urgency
with the deepening effect of the global economic crisis on Armenia.
Armenia has been ranked rather low in recent annual corruption perception
indexes published by Transparency International, a Berlin-based anti-graft
watchdog.
The 2008/2009 Global Competitiveness Report also mentions corruption as one
of the main constraints to sustainable economic development and a major
concern of local businesses that even put it before political stability.
As a component of the U.S. development assistance program, MAAC has
supported efforts in Armenia to reduce corruption on both ground and system
levels since it was launched in July 2007.
The U.S. ambassador to Armenia hailed this week’s NGO marketplace as a
success, considering the participation of more than 1,700 people in the
general vote as a =80=98fabulous support for the idea that we need ideas to fight
corruption.’
Marie Yovanovitch said the U.S. will continue to support Armenia’s
fight
against corruption by providing technical and financial assistance, as well
as through moral and political support.
`Eventually, it will be the commitment, dedication and engagement of people
like you, individually and working together as civil society organizations,
that will make the difference,’ the ambassador said in addressing the
participants.
Vezina said MAAC considered holding a similar event in 2011.
***************************************** **********************************
*7.* *Currency concerns: Post-=80=98Black Tuesday’ prediction of dram behavior
appears a tall order in Armenia*
* *
*By Armine Grigoryan*
*Special to ArmeniaNow *
* *
Nearly two months after the Armenian Central Bank let the national currency
free float, predicting the dram’s future behavior still largely remains a
guessing game for specialists, which is reflected in existing views on
possible exchange rate patterns in the future.
But specialists and local entrepreneurs agree that a further depreciation of
the national currency will only bolster local production and create more
favorable conditions for companies engaged in the tourism industry.
Ashot Arzumanyan, head of the `Saghmos’ travel agency, says that unless the
increase in the prices for electricity and natural gas significantly affects
the prices of goods and services, tourism companies will be able to provide
services at cheaper prices.
`This will give us an opportunity to compensate for the tendencies
towards a
decreasing number of tourists as a result of the global financial and
economic crisis,’ says Arzumanyan.
Ara Nranyan, a parliament deputy from the pro-government Dashnaktsutyun
faction, views the probability of the exchange rate fluctuation as the
consequence of the decrease in the volume of private transfers and exports,
which means that the level of the currency entering Armenia will be low.
`However, this does not mean that the national currency will depreciate.
Imports, the main source of shaping up the demand for currency, are also on
the decline, and that means that the demand for additional currency won=80=99t
shape up,’ the lawmaker with a background in economics, explains.
`The situation was different at the beginning of the year when the
available
dollar mass was not
sufficient to provide for large imports. At present, the decrease in the
population’s incomes has affected the buying ability, and that means the
imports will not be as abundant and extensive as before. Therefore,* *I
think there are no grounds for the dollar to go up at the moment,’
Nranyan
says.
Forecasts of experts predicting a sharp depreciation of the Armenian
currency came true on March 3 when the Central Bank (CB) Public Relations
Service announced that the CB Council had made a decision to limit its
intervention in the foreign currency market and go back to the `floating
rate’ policy.
While on March 2 the CB set the exchange rate at 305 drams 75 lumas for one
dollar, on March 3, after the CB’s announcement, the foreign currency rates
increased dramatically. The exchange rate for one dollar rose to 372 drams
within one day, and until present the average exchange rate for the US
dollar on the currency market has mostly remained unchanged.
The CB decision resulted in long queues at currency exchange offices and in
panic buying at supermarkets and stores as people tried to get rid of their
dram savings. And the day when the decision was announced was eventually
called =80=98Black Tuesday’.
Currently, the next stage of forecasts is in circulation: what changes will
the dram-dollar exchange =80=98drama’ undergo during the second
quarter?
According to the results of the study conducted by the Cascade Investments
organization, at the end of the second quarter of 2009, the exchange rate
for 1 dollar will be 353 drams. The same source informed that during the
third quarter the dram will go up by 8 drams, and the exchange rate for 1
dollar will be 345 drams, and at the end of the fourth quarter 1 dollar will
buy 348 drams.
Vardan Bostanjyan, a parliament member with another pro-government faction,
Prosperous Armenia, disagrees with the results of Cascade Investments=80=99
study. He believes that even today’s exchange rate (1 dollar for 372 drams)
does not reflect the actual state of affairs.
`I think if the currency exchange rate goes up a little more and reaches
about 400 drams for 1 dollar, the picture will be closer to reality. In that
case the local producers will find themselves in a more favorable situation,
which will facilitate the exports of local production in more normal
conditions,’ Bostanjyan says.
Head of the `Finances and Loans’ Chair at the Armenian State University of
Economy, Professor Lukashin Badanyan thinks slight fluctuations of the
exchange rate may take place during the next three months, however, not of
the dram going up, but of the dram depreciating, which, according to him,
will continue until the end of the year.
`Based on the study of the crisis developments, I think the dram will slowly
continue to depreciate, and the exchange rate for 1 dollar will be 420 drams
at the end of the year,’ Badanyan says.**
On March 3, 2009, according to the announcement made by the CB, it was
expected that the average balanced level of the exchange rate in 2009 would
fluctuate between 360-380 drams for 1 dollar, which, according to
independent analysts, doesn’t quite correspond to reality. Meanwhile, the CB
says it will stick to its declared policy.
`The CB will remain committed to its policy of =80=98floating rate’,’ says Zaruhi
Barseghyan, Head of the CB press service.
************************************** **************************************
*8. A Century On: Armenians remember Adana massacre in Ottoman Empire as a
prelude to genocide *
* *
*By Aris Ghazinyan*
An atrocious massacre of the Armenian population was perpetrated in April
1909 on the Cilician coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with more than 30,000
Armenians falling victim to the heinous crime in the Adana villayet alone.
This event became the first massacre of the Armenian population by the Young
Turks Party that came to power in 1908. English author Edward Frederic Benson
would later call the massacre in Adana `experimental’ in the policy of Young
Turks. It was this massacre in Kilikia that became a prelude to the Armenian
Genocide.
In Benson’s opinion, not only fresh methods of exterminating people were
tested in Kilikia, but also certain foreign policy schemes concerning how
the world community would react to the extermination of ethnic minorities in
the Ottoman Empire. Immediately after Adana, Greeks, Chaldeans, Assyrians,
Bulgarians and Arabs were massacred as well.=80¦
Yerevan hosted an international scientific conference devoted to the
100thanniversary of the Massacre of Armenians on April 20-21.
Historians from
Armenia, Italy, Hungary, Austria, France, the United States and Sweden took
part and made reports at the conference organized by the Armenian Genocide
Institute Museum.
`The massacre of Armenians of 1909 in Adana is a classic example of the
prelude to genocide, just like a similar example, the Crystalline night =80`
Kristallnacht – with regards to the Holocaust,’ said Suren
Manukyan, a
historian and oriental studies expert.
`Thus, the population of Adana was probably the most excited about
the
promises of =80=98Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’ announced by the new
authorities of the Ottoman Empire a year before the events and demanded
equal rights and access to civil service positions. Basically all the
authors point out that an atmosphere of friendliness dominated among the
Armenians and Turks of the Adana region, and due to that the region was able
to avoid the Abdul-Hamid pogroms. This made the attack on the Armenians of
Adana even more so unexpected. It was in the town of Adana and nearby
villages that the methods used later during the 1915-23 genocide were
tested.’
As the Diaspora Minister of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan pointed out, April was
a fateful month for the Armenian people. `Our scholars write and talk about
the massacre in Adana; however, most Armenians and the international
community are not well aware of it.’
The Director of the Armenian Genocide Institute Museum Hayk Demoyan reminded
that `the massacre in Adana became the continuation of Hamid=80=99s slaughters
(1894-1896), as a result of which about 300,000 Armenians were killed and
forced to leave their homes.
**************************************** **********************************
*9.** A Soldier’s death: Parents claim their son was murdered; prosecutor
blames faulty **electric wire** *
* *
*By Gayane Abrahamyan*
*ArmeniaNow reporter*
Eighteen-year-old Tigran Ohanjanyan died in the army not during any kind of
military actions, but according to an official theory, inadvertently, of
electrocution, whereas some evidence and contradictions in the criminal case
suggest he might have been murdered.
A court last week resumed the hearing of the case of the servicemen who, the
prosecutor says, died as a result of an accident, while his parents believe
the evidence neglected by the court speaks volumes for their son’s
violent
death.
`How was he electrocuted when his clothes were torn, his teeth fell out, he
had a broken jaw, if they had at least come up with a more credible lie,=80=9D
says Gohar Sargsyan, Tigran’s mother, dressed in black, caressing the only
memories left of her son – his photos and numerous medals won at sports
tournaments.
In 2000, the Ohanjanyans lived in the town of Pyatigorsk in southern Russia,
where Tigran studied at the State Polytechnic University, but then he
decided to come to his homeland to do his civil duty – serve in the army,
and then continue his studies.
`He was a judo champion, and when he went to tournaments, he would
sometimes
have problems with his passport, so he said: `I’ll go and serve in the army,
get my passport easily and come back,’ Sargsyan says and moans, =80=9CWho shall I
now demand my child from?’
Tigran died on August 30, 2007, in number 28 418 military unit in the
village of Karchaghbyur of Armenia’s Gegharkunik province. As it is stated
in the five-volume criminal case, he left the military unit around 11:00 pm,
accidentally touched the cable supporting the wave collector located near
the communication center* *of the military unit, and got electrocuted.
Although in the same criminal case there are several experts’ and two
witnesses’ testimonies that this wave collector had no power supply, the
power supply at the adjacent station was only 27 Volt, besides, `even if
there was electricity in those, it was driven into the ground and should
have neutralized the current, as the ground is the best place for earthing,’
however, these facts, brought forth by the experts, were not taken into
account.
The parents insist it was a murder, using the photos they took before
autopsy as evidence, which, however, were not accepted as material evidence
by investigators.
The photo clearly shows that the fingers on the left hand have gone blue,
especially the thumb, the palm is injured and there are bruises in some
places, the left ear is visibly swollen, there is an injury in the region of
the eye, and the incisors of the upper jaw are missing.’
However, all this went unnoticed by the forensic doctor, who only pointed
out that 4-5 teeth were missing.
The injury to the neck is far more suspicious – according to the official
theory, the electricity wire fell on the neck, the wound is 19 cm long and
thin. However, its size also arouses suspicion.
`According to their official theory, my son touched the cable supporting the
wave-collector, which, again according to the official theory, according to
expert Genadi Harutyunyan’s data, was tightly driven into the ground. If it
was tight, how did that tight, thick cable go around his neck for 19 cm,
this is not possible,’ says Suren Ohanjanyan, the father of the dead
soldier.* *
Another circumstance arouses doubts as well – the clothes of the dead person
and the cable of the wave collector were sent for expert examination
respectively 56 and 38 days later, moreover, no traces were found on the
cable as a result of three expert examinations.
When Sevan garrison prosecutor Gnel Manukyan was asked by the investigator
why he sent it for examination so late, he answered that he was busy, had no
time, and these answers satisfied the investigator, who just qualified it as
negligence, and nobody was held responsible for that,’ says Suren
Ohanjanyan.
In the report written immediately after the event, it was stated that the
clothes of the dead person were torn in the armpits and around the chest,
whereas 56 days later the expert received clothes that were perfectly all
right.
`After our complaints they sent those to another expert, and there
the
clothes suddenly tore again, but the size didn’t match,’ the mother says.
The size of the clothes of the judo champion who weighed 110 kilos was
reported in the criminal case to be size 48, whereas all his jackets, even
the shirts made of a stretching material, were size 54, and it remains
unclear how Tigran served for 10 months in clothes that were 6 sizes
smaller.
The parents who lost their child are convinced that their son was beaten up,
maybe even strangled, and then the wound on the neck was electrocuted to
obliterate the traces of the murder and present it as an accident.
`My son, as his friends tell, was invited to a private conversation at about
8:00 pm, and, as a 110-kilo sportsman could not be beaten up by several
soldiers, people were brought from elsewhere, and this is already a group
murder that the investigators and the prosecutor’s office are trying to
cover up,’ says the soldier’s father, adding that even the
prosecutor, who
was supposed to defend their interests in court, was doing all he could to
cover it up.
`They know perfectly well who the murderers are and what happened,
they just
took a bribe, that’s all – they wouldn’t take a bribe from a dead man, would
they?’ the mother adds.
Prosecutor Harutyun Harutyunyan refused to give any comments to ArmeniaNow,
saying that the parents have the copy of the criminal case, `you can see it
and judge for yourselves.’
The court procedure on Tigran’s case began in June 2008, it is being held in
Gavar, two young people are on trial – those who were responsible for the
communication center in the military unit and face up to six years in prison
for negligence.
`We have agreed even to the most horrifying thing – exhumation, to prove
that his jaw had been broken and his teeth were missing, so that innocent
people are not convicted and the murderers don’t remain at large to further
terrorize us,’ the mother says.
The parents claim at least two death threats received from unknown people
during last year. First, according to their account, three sturdy young men
approached Tigran’s father and threatened to kill him, and then four sturdy
young men got off a black Mercedes and said that they would do away with the
whole family if they continued to `dig deeper into their son=80=99s murder.’
`If my son was electrocuted, who is threatening us and why?=80=9D the mother
asks.
************************************ ****************************************
*10. Karabakh: Will the new law on religion curb the number of sects in
Karabakh?*
* *
*By Naira Hairumyan*
*ArmeniaNow Karabakh reporter*
Before declaring independence, Nagorno-Karabakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous
District at the time) was the only administrative entity in the Soviet Union
where there was not a single functioning church, and the ancient cathedrals
were used as storehouses. According to Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, the
head of the Artsakh diocese, there were 118 churches and 12 monasteries at
the beginning of the 20th century on the territory of Karabakh, but after
1930 they were closed, and all the clergy were either exiled or executed by
shooting.
The Armenian Apostolic Church resumed its activities in Karabakh in 1989 by
restoring the Artsakh diocese. More than 30 churches have been restored and
built in Nagorno Karabakh during the past 20 years.
Freedom of religion in Karabakh has led to the emergence, and, later,
growth of the number of sects. Starting from 1992, when hostilities in
Karabakh entered an active phase, many other religious organizations
appeared as well.
According to Ashot Sargsyan, Head of the NKR Government-affiliated
Department on Ethnic Minorities and Religion, 11 religious organizations are
functioning in Karabakh, their `headquarters’ have state registration in
Armenia and have an estimated 3,500 members. More than 2,000 of them are
Jehovah’s Witnesses, of whom, according to the data, 280 are permanent staff
members who carry out propaganda and get financing from abroad.
The new law `On freedom of conscience and religious organizations’ came into
force in January 2009. The law gave religious organizations six months to
get registered. According to Article 8 of the above law, no religious
organizations, except the Armenian Apostolic Church and its traditional
organizations, are allowed to preach on the territory of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
According to the law, a religious organization willing to invite guests from
coreligionist foreign communities – preachers, for instance, can do so only
if it has a corresponding permission of the Department on Ethnic Minorities
and Religion. `Such measures restrict the rights of religious
organizations,’ said Arayik Khachatryan, a Jehovah’s Witness, `This is
tantamount to state censorship.’
As of late March, only one religious organization – `The Armenian Catholic
Church of Artsakh’ – is registered with the State Register
of
Nagorno-Karabakh. (the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization had also applied to
the Department, and it was given all the necessary documents and
registration forms, however, the organization has not submitted the papers
yet.)
`Having studied the documents submitted by a group of citizens from the
`Fire of Vigil’ NKR Church of Evangelical Christians, and having enough
information about the activities of this religious organization in Artsakh,
the expert group has concluded that a number of methods of psychological
influence on believers used by the acolytes of this religious community
contradict Point 1 of Article 19 of the NKR Constitution and Point 1 of
Article 3 of the NKR Law `On freedom of conscience and religious
organizations,’ said Sargsyan. The organization’s registration application
was rejected.
During the past few years, three people who refused to serve in the army on
religious grounds were convicted in Karabakh. In January 2009, Gagik
Mirzoyan, a Baptist who served his term but never gave the oath of
allegiance was demobilized from the Karabakh army. He was issued a military
card where there is a gap in the column titled `Oath.’
On September 5, 2005, military serviceman Gagik Mirzoyan, born in the
village of Chailu, Martakert district of NKR in 1986, was convicted
according to Article 364, part 1 of the NKR Criminal Code after 9 months of
service in the NKR Defense Army for his refusal to take the military oath of
allegiance and was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Mirzoyan, who is a
member of the religious organization `Evangelical Christians =80` Baptists’,
justifies his actions on the grounds that the Bible commands not to take
oaths. At the same time, he expressed readiness to continue service in the
NKR Defense Army without making the pledge.
In its 2007 annual report on the issues of freedom of religion, the U.S.
State Department included a report on Karabakh as well. The report states
that Areg Hovhannisyan, a member of the `Jehovah’s Witnesses’ religious
organization, who refused to serve in the military as conscientious objector
on religious grounds and was sentenced to four-year imprisonment in 2005,
was still in jail.
Christianity made its way into Armenia in the 1st century AD owing to two
disciples of Jesus Christ – Thomas and Bartholomew, who preached Christian
teaching on the territory of Armenia. In Artsakh and Aghvank, the first
preachers of Christianity were Thomas’s disciples – Dado (Dadi) and
Yeghishe. Monasteries of Dadivank and St. Prophet Yeghishe were later built
in the places where they died martyrs’ deaths. After Armenia officially
adopted Christianity as a state religion (in 301 A.D.), the first Armenian
Patriarch Gregory I the Illuminator founded the first monastery at the
beginning of the IV century in the village of Amaras (Martuni district,
NKR), and Mesrop Mashtots opened the first school in Artsakh.
************************************** **************************************
*11. Green Thinker: Pensioner in Armenia claims remedy for climate change,
neglect from agencies*
* *
*By Siranuysh Gevorgyan *
*ArmeniaNow reporter*
A former math teacher in Armenia claims his =80=98smart technologies=80=99 could
provide mankind with sustainable solutions to global warming issues, but
says neglect from local agencies prevents them from making any difference.
Henrik Mkhitaryan, 70, boasts about two dozen, mainly energy-related
inventions, 14 of which have been patented by the Armenian Intellectual
Property Agency. But he says after receiving patents for his inventions he
could not make any use of them as different departments and agencies have
shown no interest in them despite his numerous applications.
`I am always told that even Japanese and Americans, who are very
progressive, have not managed to solve that problem yet. And if so, then how
would I manage to do that? This is a neglectful attitude towards the
Armenian nation. So, they mean that Armenians do not have the right to
create smart things,’ says Mkhitaryan, giving vent to his anger over what he
sees as injustice. But then he adds that realistically he sees no way out.
In Armenia inventions are patented by the Intellectual Property Agency,
which has the status of a separate functioning department at the Ministry of
Economy. Specialists of the Agency study submitted inventions for about a
year. And then in case of a positive conclusion the inventor receives a
patent.
Mkhitaryan, who comes from Aparan, tells his life story with naïve frankness
typical of natives of this Armenian province. He says he had to go through
hard times during his adolescence as he had to quit Yerevan State University
(Faculty of Cybernetics) for a job at a Yerevan brewery to help his mother
out. Yet, Mkhitaryan managed to continue his education at Yerevan Teachers’
Training Institute, taking correspondence courses. Later Mkhitaryan embarked
on a teaching career at school.
The teacher-turned-inventor believes his latest invention which he himself
calls a =80=98Complex Station of Making Air Stream and Generating Electricity
from it’ provides a green solution to the problem of climate change.
He invokes scientific data suggesting that global warming can be prevented
through a 30 percent reduction in the usage of fuel by 2050.
`It means that the main reason for global warming is fuel emission. My
inventions suggest getting warm water, cold air and at the same time a great
amount of electricity without using fuel,’ Mkhitaryan says.
A huge area on a slope is needed for Mkhitaryan’s =80=98Complex
Station’. As the
inventor describes, a cover (like the one used for greenhouses) is put on
the slope, under which the air is getting warmer. Later the warm air is
flowing upwards because of the sloping space. Mkhitaryan suggests absorbing
the warmth from the air by means of water. In this case we would have warm
water, which `can serve a whole town.’ As for the air stream, the inventor
suggests putting a wind electric power station in front of it, and thus,
getting electricity. He says his invention is especially expedient for use
in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. As for Armenia, he
says, it can be used only in spring, summer, and autumn.
The National Academy of Sciences of Armenia expressed its positive attitude
towards Mkhitaryan’s invention. And Vahan Hamazaspyan, Doctor of Technical
Sciences, in his written opinion about the invention, says that `the simple
structure of the system may make it possible to solve energy problems
without serious investments.’ Hamazaspyan even suggested submitting the
invention for the President’s Award.
However, Armenia’s Energy Institute declined the invention, saying
it is
impossible to realize it, and that an inaccurate calculation was done for
the implementation of the invention.
Mkhitaryan opposes the rejection.
`If I have got the patent, if correspondent specialists’ opinion is
positive, why are they hindering me then?’ he says. The inventor has his own
explanation for this situation. He believes that if someone has been busy
finding a solution to a problem for a long time, it is hard for them to
accept someone else’s solution, no matter how perfect it is.
Mkhitaryan’s other inventions are also very important from the environmental
point of view. He suggests using his inventions for preventing fuel wastes’
entrance into the atmosphere. Mkhitaryan says that it would be much better
to get rid of industrial factories’ smoke by means of a special boiler which
would allow throwing out the smoke not directly from a flue into the air,
but rather separating the waste and smoke by means of water and pouring them
into a special place within factory premises.
`Later these wastes could be used as fertilizers, since materials obtained
through burning fuel are always useful as fertilizers,’ says Mkhitaryan.
He suggests a similar model for cars and garbage, which along with heating
and industrial wastes are believed to be the main polluters in big cities.
`The planet is being destroyed,’ Mkhitaryan says thus repeating the
widespread concerns of environment specialists and scientists around the
globe.
While waiting for his smart green technologies to be appreciated, Mkhitaryan
teaches mathematics to university entrants. The pensioner also has a garden
of his own where he grows apricot trees as well as has a vineyard.
Artificial ponds for breeding fish and crab are among Mkhitaryan’s
recent
achievements.
`I plan to expand my ponds this year, but I have no means for that
yet,’
says the stubborn inventor smiling.
**************************************** ************************************
*12. Un Poncho e Un Sombrero: Mariachi singing offers a delightful sight for
Yerevan residents*
* *
*By Siranuysh Gevorgyan*
*ArmeniaNow reporter*
Mexican-style musicians wearing special uniforms and singing serenades have
been sighted recently in backyards of some residential buildings in Yerevan.
But those musicians are not from Mexico or any other Latin American country,
but are Armenians and in fact are professional musicians working for =80=98Plays
with Science’, a privately run company offering the service.
This unique gift for sweethearts is something new in our country. Serenade
is a musical piece of art, or/and a performance, which is performed
especially for someone, mainly the beloved ones.
`Since we did not have something like this before in our country, the
serenade singing process is already strange in Armenia,’ says founder and
director of the organization Taron Gasparyan. `Wherever we played,
people
got out of their apartments and started applauding, and they even shoot us
by their mobile phones.’
Besides serenades, the company offers other musical services, too. Their
musicians play at banquets, soirees, different parties, even at the airport
for welcoming guests.
Taron Gasparyan, 22, states that his aim is one – to have an organization
that would provide high quality music – classic, jazz, pure folk music.
`During the serenade service we also play high quality music =80` classic,
urban folk. I mean customers cannot order *rabiz *music,’ says Gasparyan and
adds, `We have principles, even if we are offered a handsome amount of
money, we will never go against our principles.’
=80=98Plays with Science’ LLC was founded last August. However,
it started
running actively only during the last two months. The founder named the
enterprise quoting a phrase from the film – =80=98Yerankyuni=80=99 (Triangle) shot in
1967. There is an episode in the film where one of the characters asks a
child to play a melody, and the child answers that he can play only by
reading music and cannot play the melody they wanted to listen to. Another
character from the same film comments that =80=98he plays with science’.
Gasparyan says this is also true for their musicians, who are professionals,
though.
`We collaborate with the best musicians form the Conservatory,=80=9D says
Gasparyan.
Gasparyan is a fifth-year student at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory.
He is a clarinetist; he plans to take his Masters’ Degree, too. Gasparyan
also works at the Opera Studio, adjacent to the Conservatory, as a
clarinetist. He regrets that at present classical music or jazz are
available for listeners at a limited number of places, mainly at the Opera
House, Philharmonic, and Conservatory.
`This is the reason why I decided to create this organization, so that this
type of music is played in public places,’ he says.
Gasparyan also says that the organization provides highly qualified
musicians from the Conservatory with temporary jobs. The thing is that
`because of not being able to find jobs by their professions, or being paid
very little money, they leave their profession and start working in other
places.’
Gasparyan says that previously he used to inform musicians about their
organization, but now musicians find it themselves; they come and apply for
a job.
He mentions that the prices for the services of their organization are
fairly reasonable, however, they differ. It depends on what a customer wants
– a classical trio, a quartet, or, let’s say, a brass band
consisting of 30
people. A serenade service, for example, is available from 15,000 drams
(about $40).
`In this case a customer can again choose the number of musicians and
singers and what they will sing,’ says the company director.
Nevertheless, a serenade lasts only ten minutes.
`Here it is not important how long they would sing, but rather the
ceremony
is essential, I mean, it is important that the person whom the serenade
refers to, sees it. In this case, it is already less important for the
process to last long,’ he explains.
Mainly young men order serenades for their beloved girls. But Gasparyan
remembers that recently there was a case when a girl ordered a serenade for
her beloved one as a present for his birthday.
He says there were serenade orders for engagement and wedding parties, too.
`Recently we played a serenade at the yard of a maternity hospital. A man,
who became a father, had turned to us, and we sent our musicians there. When
they were playing, all mothers of newborns started looking out of windows.
We had an impression that we were playing for everyone,’ Gasparyan
remembers, smiling.
************************************** **************************************
*13. Sport: Aronyan successful in Nalchik, Pyunik extend unbeaten run*
* *
*By Suren Musayelyan*
*ArmeniaNow reporter*
* *
*Chess*
* *
Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronyan looks successful in his quest of a FIDE
Grand Prix in the middle of a tournament in the southern Russian town of
Nalchik.
After six rounds in the 13-round tournament, the 26-year-old Armenian
grandmaster is in a clear first position with 4 ½ points, half a point
ahead of Ukraine’s Sergey Karyakin, Hungary’s Peter Leko, Yevgeny Alekseyev,
Alexander Grischuk and Peter Svidler (all representing Russia).
Vladimir Hakobyan, another Armenian grandmaster participating in the 14-man
Grand Prix tournament, has 3 ½ points and shares the 7th-10th places with a
group of players.
Before the Saturday day-off at the tournament Aronyan and Hakobyan play with
white pieces against Svidler and Alekseyev, respectively.
(Source: )
*Soccer*
* *
Two Yerevan clubs will play in the final of the Cup tournament on May 9
after beating their opponents in the second-leg semifinals this week.
Armenia’s reigning champion Pyunik beat Ulis 1-0 (4-1 on aggregate), while
Banants beat Mika 4-2 (5-3 on aggregate) – their second victory over the
Ashtarak team in four days.
Before that Pyunik improved to four straight victories in the league by
beating their last season’s foe Ararat 2-0. Banants caught up with
Mika and
Ulis in the second place with nine points in four games after beating the
Ashtarak team 3-2 on Sunday.
Ulis beat Gyumri’s Shirak 3-0 and Kilikia beat Kapan’s Gandzasar 2-1.
Ararat and Gandzasar share the bottom spot with no points gathered in their
four matches this season.
In the next round of matches this weekend, the leaders Pyunik and Banants
will play Gandzasar and Ararat, respectively. Mika will entertain Ulis,
while Kilikia will be hosted by Shirak.
(Source: Football Federation of Armenia)